The Ohio Department of Health is reporting two confirmed cases of West Nile virus in teenagers, including one from Cuyahoga County.
The ODH said a 19-year-old woman from Cuyahoga County was hospitalized with West Nile virus meningitis and is currently recovering. A 14-year-old boy from Putnam County (northwest Ohio) was confirmed to have West Nile virus fever, but was not hospitalized.
These are the first two clinical human cases of WNV in Ohio in 2011.
According to the ODH, there has been a “sharp increase” in the number of WNV-positive mosquitoes. The number of mosquito pools increased from 52 to 450 in August.
“We see human cases of West Nile virus each year in Ohio,” said ODH Director Ted Wymyslo, M.D. “You can protect yourself and your loved ones from West Nile by taking simple preventive steps such as using insect repellent and eliminating containers that can collect water from your property.”
Here are some WNV prevention tips from the ODH:
• If you are outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, be sure to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes and socks.
• Light colors are least attractive to mosquitoes. Use insect repellent and follow the label directions.
To eliminate mosquito breeding sites near your home:
• Remove all discarded tires and other water-holding containers, such as tin cans and unused flower pots, from your property.
• Eliminate standing water from your property.
• Make sure all roof gutters are clean and properly draining. Clean and chlorinate pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. Keep them empty when not in use and drain water from pool covers.
• Change water in bird baths weekly.
WNV can have no symptoms, or can lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease.
• Most people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with West Nile virus will not develop any type of illness. However, you cannot know ahead of time if you’ll get sick or not when infected.
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article courtesy of Newsnet5.com
